The purpose of this assignment is for you to create a lesson that allows the student have a concrete experience with your assigned abstract biological concept. Be sure to use the BSC 307 lesson plan template provided and to consult the rubric provided if you have questions about grading.
The purpose of this lesson is to help students discover the exceptions to Mendel's Laws that occur during genetics transmission. Students create baby Reebops and discover 6 common exceptions in Mendelian genetics patterns. This lesson is originally based on Patti Sodergberg's "Reebops: A model "organism" for teaching genetics concepts". This adaptation takes Reebops to another level in illustrating not just the transmission of traits, but higher level concepts in genetic transmission. Additional Resources:
"Delicious DNA" - Adam Bruinius
Includes hands on lab for the replication of DNA. This lab offers the students an opportunity to manipulate DNA replication themselves by creating their own strands made out of licorice and marshmallows. A handout is attached to assess if the learned the concept of base pairing by replicating another person's DNA strand. Based off of the lab located in the PDF file cited "Have your DNA and eat it too." This file has instructions for preparation, visuals on how the lab should look when completed, and also additional resources. Second PDF file "DNA keychains" contains questions that may be used for assessment. Additional resources:
"Meiosis"--Mocilan, Stephanie
This is an inquiry activity that will help teach the concept of Meiosis with the help of a computer simulation for students to see how chromosomes, genes, crossing over, and passing on of genetic material works, which is tied into Dragon reproduction.
"What's Eating You??" - Cristy Langefeld
This lesson is created to visually show students how energy is transferred by the use of a food web. Attached is a worksheet with a blank food web and a vocabulary worksheet as well. Student's will be put into groups to create their food web and use the vocabulary sheet as a guide. Student's will share their food webs at the end of class and we will be assessed on completing their food web.
"Lights..Camera...Photosynthesis!"- Dan DeWees
This lesson is designed to help students visuals the chemical reactions that take place during photosynthesis and respiration. Students will be assigned roles and act them out in accordance to the reactions. Attached to the lesson is a teachers guide created by Kelly Riedell with a few of my own modifications. Also included are photosynthesis molecule cards to print and have students use during the lesson.
The Water Cycle- Taryn Williams
Includes the lesson plan, student worksheet, and Water Cycle lab. This lesson is designed to teach the students the Water Cycle and help them understand it visually, learning the Law of Conservation and the First Law of Thermodynamics. First, they will complete the Water Cycle vocabulary and questions. Then they should be able to conduct the experiment on their own, coming up with how they would apply the Law of Conservation into the experiment. After the experiment, the students should be able to explain why they did what they did. If so, they understand all three concepts taught in this lesson plan.
Includes lesson plan, nucleotide cut outs, amino acid chart, mRNA group assignments and question hand out about Translation. This lesson's purpose is to help students truly understand each step of translation through hand held manipulatives. Many of the components of this lesson are from http://www.nclark.net, but the question sheet is my own creation. If students are able to reach the point where they can teach the steps of translation to one another, then they have reached high levels of comprehension and analysis.
“Mitosis Flipbook” -Sammy Licocci. Lesson plan, rubric, and activiy handout included. This activity is to help students further their understanding of the concept and process of mitosis. They have to draw out each phase and label the important parts in each. They make their own mini animation of the process in a fun and creative flipbook.
Nueron Transmission of Signals- Includes lesson plan, worksheets, and answer key. This lesson's purpose to help students visualize the steps to nueron transmission. A model will be used in class to show the different parts of the neuron and how they interact with one another to transfer signals. Students will then be able to lable the parts of the neuron and define some of the key terms. In addition, the students must construct their own models at home using items around their house. The models when then be discussed during a later class date.
Cellular Respiration Activity - Amanda Donnelly
Lesson plan, activity layout and plan, handouts for activity, and diagram review worksheet for assessment included. Students will walk throught the steps of cellular respiration and physically 'visit' each process in respiration. They will degrade the compounds and make the products to power their 'cell.' Students will answer questions as they go and fill out a diagram of the process after the activity to review it.
"Holding it Together: Covalent and Ionic Bonding"--Larissa Roy
Lesson plan, periodic tables, and quiz with answer sheet included. In this lesson, students will gain a better understanding of covalent and ionic bonding by swapping "electrons" (ping-pong balls with velcro) onto sashes, aiming to satisfy the octet rule. Below are periodic tables specifically highlighting the types of groups (metals, nonmetals, etc) and electronegativity values and trends that will assist students in the assessment and further understanding of the differences of these bonds.
Candy Compounds - Kelli Dillon
Lesson plan, Candy Compound worksheet, and candy key included. In this lesson students will gain a better understanding of ionic bonds by creating molecules with gumdrops. This will help students work through what consists of an ionic bond and what consists of a covalent bond and will also help them be able to visualize what molecules look like. "Polymerase Race" -- Nic Roome
In this activity students will simulate transcription on a much bigger level. Students will work in teams of 2 working together to read the DNA strand and creating the corresponding mRNA while racing the clock.
"Nitrogen Cycling" -- Mike Strickley In this activity, students will be given an introduction/refresher on the nitrogen cycle by showing them a diagram of the cycle and pointing out the main players in the cycle. Students will then find a partner and will be given a set of Ziploc bags containing note cards that have parts of the nitrogen cycle written on them. Students will then be given time to align the note cards in the correct order to show the nitrogen cycle. Students will be given a follow-up assignment that deals with the nitrogen cycle.
The purpose of this lesson is to help students understand the concept behind how traits are inherited. Students will figure out which person is affected, unaffected, or a carrier of certain genetic disorders within the lineage of a 3 generation family. Students are missing information from generation 2 and their job is to figure out who has the disorder, or who is a carrier of the disorder, based only on the information from generation 1 and 3. Included in this lesson are two fictional genetic disorders, the first of which follows simple laws of Mendel genetics. The second fictional disorder illustrates how traits can be sex-linked. This disorder is linked to the X chromosome. This lesson requires prior knowledge of the laws of dominance. Included are several follow up inquiry based discussion questions. Additional resources:
Which Worm Will Win?
Natural Selection Lesson Plan - Kevin Nichols
In order to create a concrete experience for students to understand natural selection, they must experience the process of changing phenotypes in a population first hand. In this activity, students will create this very change. Students will see different environmental backgrounds and select particular prey to correlate with the background. In a sense they will be able to create their own little sample of evolution by playing the role of the predator. This lesson is important because of the possible real life applications that the students could apply these concepts to. I hope that this lesson will be able to help bridge the gap between the abstract and the concrete in addition to helping the students develop their concept of why the organisms of the world look the way they do.
Includes lesson plan for a class demonstration on diffusion where the students will get to see diffusion happen first hand. The demonstration will be done at the beginning of class and then check agian towards the end after talking about what diffusion is. This also includes a lab activity using potatos and different sucrose solutions. The students will be able to test osmosis by putting the potatos in different solutions and seeing what happens to the potatos. Attached is a powerpoint which briefly shows how both would be done.
“Just Passing Through….” – Todd Price Includes lesson plan, worksheet, activity, rubric and templates. This lesson was inspired by videos I ran across on Youtube.com as I researched my approach in aiding student comprehension of active transport. Students will complete worksheet discussing molecular transfer across a cell membrane. Upon completion, students will then create/record a ‘digital short’ dramatizing the movement of these molecules and post it to the class wikispace.
"The Continuous Carbon (and Oxygen) Cycle" -- Max Taylor
The purpose of this lesson is to help students understand the law of conservation of matter and its relation to the carbon and oxygen cycles. Included are the lesson plan, the carbon cycle game instructions and gameboard, and the oxygen cycle activity. The students must flip coins and move their "carbon atom" throughout the gameboard according to the instructions. This activity will give students a hands-on view of how a carbon atom is recycled throughout the biosphere. The next activity involves the students applying the knowledge gained from the carbon cycle to illustrate a diagram of the oxygen cycle using the terms provided.
Student Work:
Mystery of the Reebops lesson.pdf
- Details
- Download
- 58 KB
The purpose of this lesson is to help students discover the exceptions to Mendel's Laws that occur during genetics transmission. Students create baby Reebops and discover 6 common exceptions in Mendelian genetics patterns. This lesson is originally based on Patti Sodergberg's "Reebops: A model "organism" for teaching genetics concepts". This adaptation takes Reebops to another level in illustrating not just the transmission of traits, but higher level concepts in genetic transmission. Additional Resources:"Delicious DNA" - Adam Bruinius
Includes hands on lab for the replication of DNA. This lab offers the students an opportunity to manipulate DNA replication themselves by creating their own strands made out of licorice and marshmallows. A handout is attached to assess if the learned the concept of base pairing by replicating another person's DNA strand. Based off of the lab located in the PDF file cited "Have your DNA and eat it too." This file has instructions for preparation, visuals on how the lab should look when completed, and also additional resources. Second PDF file "DNA keychains" contains questions that may be used for assessment. Additional resources:
This is an inquiry activity that will help teach the concept of Meiosis with the help of a computer simulation for students to see how chromosomes, genes, crossing over, and passing on of genetic material works, which is tied into Dragon reproduction.
"What's Eating You??" - Cristy Langefeld
This lesson is created to visually show students how energy is transferred by the use of a food web. Attached is a worksheet with a blank food web and a vocabulary worksheet as well. Student's will be put into groups to create their food web and use the vocabulary sheet as a guide. Student's will share their food webs at the end of class and we will be assessed on completing their food web.
"Lights..Camera...Photosynthesis!"- Dan DeWees
This lesson is designed to help students visuals the chemical reactions that take place during photosynthesis and respiration. Students will be assigned roles and act them out in accordance to the reactions. Attached to the lesson is a teachers guide created by Kelly Riedell with a few of my own modifications. Also included are photosynthesis molecule cards to print and have students use during the lesson.
The Water Cycle- Taryn Williams
Includes the lesson plan, student worksheet, and Water Cycle lab. This lesson is designed to teach the students the Water Cycle and help them understand it visually, learning the Law of Conservation and the First Law of Thermodynamics. First, they will complete the Water Cycle vocabulary and questions. Then they should be able to conduct the experiment on their own, coming up with how they would apply the Law of Conservation into the experiment. After the experiment, the students should be able to explain why they did what they did. If so, they understand all three concepts taught in this lesson plan.
"Translating Translation" - Angela Vitale
Includes lesson plan, nucleotide cut outs, amino acid chart, mRNA group assignments and question hand out about Translation. This lesson's purpose is to help students truly understand each step of translation through hand held manipulatives. Many of the components of this lesson are from http://www.nclark.net, but the question sheet is my own creation. If students are able to reach the point where they can teach the steps of translation to one another, then they have reached high levels of comprehension and analysis.“Mitosis Flipbook” -Sammy Licocci. Lesson plan, rubric, and activiy handout included. This activity is to help students further their understanding of the concept and process of mitosis. They have to draw out each phase and label the important parts in each. They make their own mini animation of the process in a fun and creative flipbook.
Cellular Respiration Activity - Amanda Donnelly
Lesson plan, activity layout and plan, handouts for activity, and diagram review worksheet for assessment included. Students will walk throught the steps of cellular respiration and physically 'visit' each process in respiration. They will degrade the compounds and make the products to power their 'cell.' Students will answer questions as they go and fill out a diagram of the process after the activity to review it.
"Holding it Together: Covalent and Ionic Bonding"--Larissa Roy
Lesson plan, periodic tables, and quiz with answer sheet included. In this lesson, students will gain a better understanding of covalent and ionic bonding by swapping "electrons" (ping-pong balls with velcro) onto sashes, aiming to satisfy the octet rule. Below are periodic tables specifically highlighting the types of groups (metals, nonmetals, etc) and electronegativity values and trends that will assist students in the assessment and further understanding of the differences of these bonds.
Candy Compounds - Kelli Dillon
Lesson plan, Candy Compound worksheet, and candy key included. In this lesson students will gain a better understanding of ionic bonds by creating molecules with gumdrops. This will help students work through what consists of an ionic bond and what consists of a covalent bond and will also help them be able to visualize what molecules look like.
"Polymerase Race" -- Nic Roome
In this activity students will simulate transcription on a much bigger level. Students will work in teams of 2 working together to read the DNA strand and creating the corresponding mRNA while racing the clock.
"Nitrogen Cycling" -- Mike Strickley
In this activity, students will be given an introduction/refresher on the nitrogen cycle by showing them a diagram of the cycle and pointing out the main players in the cycle. Students will then find a partner and will be given a set of Ziploc bags containing note cards that have parts of the nitrogen cycle written on them. Students will then be given time to align the note cards in the correct order to show the nitrogen cycle. Students will be given a follow-up assignment that deals with the nitrogen cycle.
Herbst Concrete Lesson BSC 307.doc
- Details
- Download
- 33 KB
The purpose of this lesson is to help students understand the concept behind how traits are inherited. Students will figure out which person is affected, unaffected, or a carrier of certain genetic disorders within the lineage of a 3 generation family. Students are missing information from generation 2 and their job is to figure out who has the disorder, or who is a carrier of the disorder, based only on the information from generation 1 and 3. Included in this lesson are two fictional genetic disorders, the first of which follows simple laws of Mendel genetics. The second fictional disorder illustrates how traits can be sex-linked. This disorder is linked to the X chromosome. This lesson requires prior knowledge of the laws of dominance. Included are several follow up inquiry based discussion questions. Additional resources:Which Worm Will Win?
Natural Selection Lesson Plan - Kevin Nichols
In order to create a concrete experience for students to understand natural selection, they must experience the process of changing phenotypes in a population first hand. In this activity, students will create this very change. Students will see different environmental backgrounds and select particular prey to correlate with the background. In a sense they will be able to create their own little sample of evolution by playing the role of the predator. This lesson is important because of the possible real life applications that the students could apply these concepts to. I hope that this lesson will be able to help bridge the gap between the abstract and the concrete in addition to helping the students develop their concept of why the organisms of the world look the way they do.
Shrink or Pop…the power of Osmosis (and Diffusion)
Osmosis and Diffusion - Phil Dorjath
Includes lesson plan for a class demonstration on diffusion where the students will get to see diffusion happen first hand. The demonstration will be done at the beginning of class and then check agian towards the end after talking about what diffusion is. This also includes a lab activity using potatos and different sucrose solutions. The students will be able to test osmosis by putting the potatos in different solutions and seeing what happens to the potatos. Attached is a powerpoint which briefly shows how both would be done.
“Just Passing Through….” – Todd Price
Includes lesson plan, worksheet, activity, rubric and templates. This lesson was inspired by videos I ran across on Youtube.com as I researched my approach in aiding student comprehension of active transport. Students will complete worksheet discussing molecular transfer across a cell membrane. Upon completion, students will then create/record a ‘digital short’ dramatizing the movement of these molecules and post it to the class wikispace.
"The Continuous Carbon (and Oxygen) Cycle" -- Max Taylor
The purpose of this lesson is to help students understand the law of conservation of matter and its relation to the carbon and oxygen cycles. Included are the lesson plan, the carbon cycle game instructions and gameboard, and the oxygen cycle activity. The students must flip coins and move their "carbon atom" throughout the gameboard according to the instructions. This activity will give students a hands-on view of how a carbon atom is recycled throughout the biosphere. The next activity involves the students applying the knowledge gained from the carbon cycle to illustrate a diagram of the oxygen cycle using the terms provided.